Volume 358, Issue 7 e70034
FULL PAPER

Synthesis, Anti-Alzheimer Evaluation and In Silico Study of 4-Methoxyphenyl)Sulfonyl Indole Hybrid Thiosemicarbazones

Uzma Ghaffar

Uzma Ghaffar

Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Search for more papers by this author
Zahra Batool

Zahra Batool

Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Search for more papers by this author
Mussarat Tasleem

Mussarat Tasleem

Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Search for more papers by this author
Nastaran Sadeghian

Nastaran Sadeghian

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author
Parham Taslimi

Parham Taslimi

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author
Suraj N. Mali

Suraj N. Mali

School of Pharmacy, D.Y. Patil University (Deemed to be University), Navi Mumbai, India

Search for more papers by this author
Kholood A. Dahlous

Kholood A. Dahlous

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Search for more papers by this author
Rahul D. Jawarkar

Rahul D. Jawarkar

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Dr. Rajendra Gode Institute of Pharmacy, Amravati, India

Search for more papers by this author
Shailesh S. Gurav

Shailesh S. Gurav

Department of Chemistry, VIVA College, Virar, Maharashtra, India

Search for more papers by this author
Xianliang Zhao

Xianliang Zhao

School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

Search for more papers by this author
Iqra Munir

Iqra Munir

Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Search for more papers by this author
Zahid Shafiq

Corresponding Author

Zahid Shafiq

Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Correspondence: Zahid Shafiq ([email protected])

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 10 July 2025

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurological disorder linked to behavioral, psychological, and language abnormalities as well as memory loss. A series of 1-[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]−1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazones 5(a–v) had been synthesized and screened for their potential against AD. The compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects against cholinesterases (AChE and BChE) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Compounds 5l, 5v, and 5r showed remarkable activity on AChE, BChE, and MAO-A enzymes, having IC50 values ranging between 1.57 and 4.56 nM (Ki = 1.43 ± 0.44 to 3.43 ± 0.21 nM), between 25.68 and 35.06 nM (Ki = 22.53 ± 7.70 to 34.82 ± 2.32 nM), and between 22.98 and 27.23 nM, respectively. Compound 5l with trifluoromethyl substitution at the 3 and 5 positions was the most effective derivative of AChE and BChE, having Ki values of 1.43 ± 0.44 nM and 22.53 ± 7.70 nM, respectively. Compound 5v with chloro substitution at the 2 and 6 positions of the phenyl ring was the most potent inhibitor of MAO-A, with IC50 values of 22.98 nM. Structure–activity analysis exhibited that the electron-withdrawing substituents and di-substitution on the phenyl ring play a significant role in the inhibition potential of synthesized compounds. The most effective inhibitors’ binding interactions with the active sites of AChE, BChE, and MAO-A were described via molecular docking studies. In silico ADME, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness studies were conducted and compared with the standard drugs galantamine and clorgyline.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.